Hide and skin working machine employing rotating rolls



R. F. WHITNEY May 26, 1953 HIDE AND SKIN WORKING MACHINE EMPLOYING ROTATING ROLLS Filed Aug. 22, 1951 May 26, 1953 R. F. WHITNEY 2,639,603

I HIDE AND SKIN WORKING MACHINE EMPLOYING RoTAIINGRoLLs Filed Aug. 22, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [reuen/tor oiga/if May 26, 1953 R. F. WHITNEY 2,639,603

HIDE AND SKIN WORKING MACHINE EMPLOYING ROTATING ROLLS` Filed Aug. 22, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 llllllllllllgriiff? /52 y WL May 26, 1953 R. F. WHITNEY 2,639,603

HIDE AND SKIN WORKING MACHlNE EMPLOYING ROTATING ROLLS Filed Aug. 22, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 26, 1953 R. F. WHITNEY 2,639,603

HIDE AND SKIN WORKING MACHINE EMPLOYING ROTATING ROLLS Filed Aug. 22, 1951 5 Sheets-SheeI 5 Patented May 26, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HIDE AND SKIN WORKNG MACHINE EMPLOYING ROTATING ROLLS Application August 22, 1951, Serial No. 243,101

14 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for treating hides and skins., and more particularly to machines employing rotating rolls for performing such operations as fleshing, unhairing, scudding o-r setting. It will be understood, however, that important features of the invention may have other applications and uses in the tannery field.

In general, tannery machinery must operate under conditions which are diiiicult in so far as maintenance and repair of the machines are co-ncerned. It has also been found in the past that machines for treating large pieces of work were not as `acceptable in treating small pieces for the reason that each small work -piece or a side of leather, when treated in such machines, would often be thrust to one side of the desired line of feed and damaged. In many tannery machines another difficulty is encountered in that the operators must employ considerable manual force in initiating a change in each machine opera.- tion cycle with consequent physical fatigue resulting, the cycle change in the machine moreover, frequently causing the machine parts to clash or to act abruptly on the work piece. The result is an undesired effect on the quality of the work produced and considerable strain and wear of the mechanical elements involved.

1t is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tannery machine having an arrangement of `parts which are readily accessible for repair and maintenance as well as being adjustable to compensate for the wear of rolls which form main parts of the machine. As herein illustrated the machine is provided with a novel roll and roll arrangement for optionally feeding and treating either large or small work pieces. It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine with an improved fluid-pressure control mechanism for opening and closing the work treating rolls smoothly and without fatigue on the part of the operator.

To the above ends and in accordance with important features of the invention, a novel system or arrangement of work treating rolls and supporting members is provided which is driven by power means located high on the machine free of dirt and debris and readily accessible for adjustment, replacement or repair. Another feature is `a novel feed-roll having longitudinal and helical grooves which serves in combination with a rubber surfaced bed roll to feed and hold the work along the desired path of feed. A further feature comprises an improved arrangement for conveniently shifting a pinch roll in and out of operative relation to the other rolls with no interference in respect to the introduction of work to be treated, thereby providing, at will, either a long or short grip for treating large or small Work pieces respectively. As an added feature there is provided a feed roill adjustably mounted to compensate for Wear without influencing work pressure on the bed roll thereby maintaining quality of the work done. Another feature of the invention is an improved fluid pressure system utilizing a valve with a plunger having annular grooves to provide smooth control of a tannery machine employing work treating rolls.

The invention will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims. f

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a view in front elevation of a machine embodying the present invention, with parts broken away for ease of illustration and with the work-engaging rolls shown in their closed, longgrip positions;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale along the line II-II of Fig. l at the [right-hand end of the machine and also with lparts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a Sectional view (drawn to the same scale as Fig. 1) along the line III--III of Fig. l at the left-hand end of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a View of some of the parts as shown in Fig. 3 but with the rolls in open positions and with a work piece placed in position for subsequent treatment;

Fig. 5 is a section along the line V-V of Fig. 1 but showing only some of the parts with the rolls in open positions and ready for short-grip operatlon with a work piece positioned for treatment upon subsequent closure of the rolls;

Fig. 6 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 5 but with the rolls in closed positions and a work piece being treated;

Fig. is a more complete view in elevation of some of the fluid-pressure apparatus shown partially and during a different portion of the machine cycle in Fig. 2;

- Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional View along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a section through the control valve grawln to a larger scale, along `the line IX--IX of Fig. l0 is an enlarged View of a portion of the feed roll shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a section along the line XI-XI Fig. 10; and of Fig. 12 is an enlarged section along the line XII-XII of Fig. 1.

The machine as illustrated includes a frame comprising two main castings l and |2 and end members |4 and I6 (Fig. 1) the latter being made up of channel bars. Supported on the main castings I0 and |2'are two horizontal and transversely extending channel bars fla and 2t (Fig. 2) which tie the end members of the frame together and on their ends support the vertical end frames |,4 and I6. The tops of the main castingsl and |2 are rigidly joined together by A'I'iiefans of channel bars 22 and 24 (Figs. 2 and 3) andatiesh'aft-or hand rail to be described.

At the left-hand end of Athe machine and vadjustably mounted with relation `tothe channel bars 22 and 24 by means of studs3-0 is a horizontal plate 26 for supporting anelctriciniotor 28.

` An L-shaped bracket 32 is provided for vsupporting a bearing block or pillow block 34 with a horizontal leg 33 of the bracket 32 being attached to the'bars 22 and 24 beneaththe plate-26. In alinement with the bearih`g3'4 is`a's'cnd bearing 38 (Fig. l) supported by afbra'cket I"40 having a horizontal leg 4| (Fig. 2) attached tothe top of the channel bars 22 and l24. The end frame members I4 and I6 support ybearings 42 *and 44 (Fig. l) to Cooperate'withthe'ybearings 34 and 38 in supporting 'a`sliaft46 running the 4fullwidth of the machine. The shaft of the motor 28 is provided with a'small'dianieter set of Pulleys '48 (Fig. 3) as 4well'a`s"`with a largerdiam'et'er set of pulleys'50. The setof pulleyslis connected by belts 52 to a larger set of pulleys 54 mounted on the vshaft l46 vto, drive the same. Between the bearings y and "4'4 and kye'dto the'shaft 46 is a set of`pulleys'56'which'is connectedby belts 58 to large pulleys 60 (Fig. 2) for driving a clut'chfunit on a counter shaft 62,. The llatter shaft is mounted in'bearing's'onfthe inaiiroasting |'2'and vendcastng |6. `One of Athese bearings (64) `is 'shown 'in Fig. `l. The shaft A"|52 islalso provided with a set'of pulleys`6`6 -rotatabletherewith for driving a setof pulleys 61 by meansofbelts'.

positionat 12,':14 and '|6`(Fig. `1') vn'thetrame members I0, |2 and I6, respectively. The Shaft 'H constitutes jthe `tie `shaft"or"s`afety hand rail pre'viously'ni'entioned Two swinging 1arms 'I8 and '80 'arefrhount'ed lfreely to rotateat theirupper ends von'theiiii'red shaft 1|. Swinging-arm 1-8 `isadjacent to and parallel with f the main lcastingi 0 'andthe Aswinging arm 80 is adjacent to andparallelwith'the main casting l2. The swingin'gvarms` are identicalin construction and-therefore only Aone-'ofthe arms is specifically describedherein. The arm'lB is U-shaped in cross section (as consideredina horizontal plane through its intrmediateportion) and within 'the sides of thearm |-8 is mounted a short `shaft32 upon'- which is mounted for relative rotation an arm 84theend of which lserves as one bearing for 'the shaft 88 fla-pi`nch spring compressionl release in 'a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. The degreer extent of spring compressionis' adjustable ltand the range of movement of the plnger'94iis` suchth'at jhelpinch roll 90may fpre'ssagainst the '-"work -a bearing bracket |0| (similar to bracket |00) to cooperate in rotatively supporting the shaft |02 and is provided with a spring-loaded plunger 91 as well as with a short or pivot shaft 83 and a ypinch roll supporting arm 85 pivoted on the shaftf83.

On the lower portion of the swinging arm 'I6 (Figs. 3 and 4) is mounted a bearing block or pillow block |04 and this block, in cooperation with a block |05 (Figs. 5 and 6), on the arm 80, supports a rubber-covered bed roll |06 on its shaft |08. i v

'Each end'of the shaft |02 is provided with a lever ||0or ||2`to`rotatetherewith. The end'of the'lever |0`is pivoted'at |14 to a chain |6 (Figs. 3 and 4) and the other end of the chain 'is attached by means of a'bolt HB tothe end of the arm 84. The'other end of the shaft |02 is similarly connected t'o the arm 85 by means of a chain |20. Near the longitudinal center of the shaft |02 and in nonrotatable relation therewith is mounted a hand lever 22.

Pivoted at |24 (Fig. 3) at the lower end of the swinging arm "I8 is a 'trunnion or'bearin'g block |26 for supporting in slid'able relationa connecting rod |28. A headed sleeve |30 s'threa'ded von the connecting rod |28 and is arranged to Slide in the trunnion'or bearing block |26 and coaXially bears a coil spring '|32 under compression between the bearing blo'c'k an'd a nut |34 adjustably threaded on the sleeve '|`30. Lock'nuts |35 vare provided to Yhold the sleeve |30'in adjusted position on the rod |23. The rod |23 is pivoted at |36 to a crank arm 4|38 attached toa shaft |40, the latter being mounted in bearings A|42 and |44 (Fig. 1) as well as in a separate bearing |45 (Fig. 2). The Ybearings -'42 `-and l|44 are attached'to brackets |46 and |48 aflixe'd to the main castings |'0 and l2, respectively, and the bearing |45 is supported on frame members to be described.

It will be'understood that'the lower end of the swinging arm is pivotally connected at |49 (Fig. '2) to'a connectingrod |50 arranged to cooperate with the connecting rod |28. One end *ofthe rod |50 is pivotedto a crank member attached to shaft |40. This-crank member and associated instrumentalities will be described hereinafter and are shown iny Fig. '7.

The extreme lower end of the swinging arm 18 isprovided with an adjustable stop screw |52 (Fig. 3) for contacting an abutment|54 on the main casting I0. The swinging arm 80 hasastop screw |56 (Figs. 1 and2) which'is adapted to function asdoes screw |52 but in relation to an abutment |51 on the casting |2.

The main or left-hand casting |0 has bolted thereto two brackets |58 and |60 (Fig. 3) Iupon whichv are mounted two resilient rubber bumper pads |62 and-|64, respectively. These'padsl are held on their corresponding brackets by means of adjustable stop screwslBS-and |68. 'Thebolts are adjusted so that-they' do not extend f'tothe top surfaces of `the rubberblocks and-the'latter are in theplane'of'rotation` of the'crankarm |38 to lserve vas'auxiliary v'stops therefor. 3Rub- -ber bumperv blocks are' not provided at'the "other 5 end ofthe shaft |48 and, in fact, have not proved to be essential at either end. They are of assistance, however, in setting up the machine and making adjustment.

The pulleys 58 (Fig. 3), mounted on and driven by the shaft of the motor 28, are connected by means of belts |18 and pulleys |12 to a shaft |14 of a conventional helical bladed work treat.- ing roll |16. The shaft |14 carries a i'iy wheel |18 and is mounted in pillow blocks or bearing blocks |88 (Fig. 3) and |82 (Fig. 2) which are bolted in place on the main castings I8 and I2, respectively, as well as in a bearing |84 (Fig. 1) mounted on a channel bar |85 attached to the frame member I4.

Pivotally mounted on the main castings I8 and i2 are curved arms |86 and |88, respectively. The pivotal mounting for the arm |86 (Fig. 3) consists of an eccentrically mounted bearing |98 which permits adjustment for wear. A similar eccentric adjustment bearing |92 is provided for the curved arm |88 (Fig. 2). The curved arm |86 at its intermediate portion is provided with a bearing 288 for one end of the shaft 282 of a special feed roll 288. The other end of the shaft 282 is journaled in a similar manner in the curved arm |88, but, in addition, bears a sprocket 288 (Fig. 2) which in turn is connected to a shaft 2|8 (journaled in bearings 2|2 and 2I4 on the frame members I2 and i6) by means of a chain 2|6 and a sprocket 2I8. Two meshing gears 228 and 222 serve to connect the shaft 2I8 and the sleeve 18. The gear 222 is fixed to the sleeve 18 which also carries a sprocket 224. The gear 228 and the sprocket 2I8 are mounted to rotate together on and with the shaft 2I8. An idler spocket 226 (Fig. 2) is resiliently mounted in engagement with the chain 2I6 to maintain the proper tautness therein.

Depending from the top of the main casting I8 and swivelly mounted therein is a rod 238 (Fig. 3) which is adapted to be held downwardly by a coil spring 232 surrounding the rod and mounted under compression between a washer 234 bearing against the under side of a cap memi The end of the curved arm |86 (Figs. 3 and 4) remote from the bearing |98 is in the form of an inclined nger 258 which is arranged to come into engagement with a roller 252 on the shaft 88. An inclined finger 298 (Figs. 5 and 6) forms a part of the curved arm |88 and, in a manner similar to that of finger 258 with respectto the roller 252, is adapted upon the proper occasion to engage a roller (not shown) at the other end of the shaft 88.

At the right-hand end or side of the machine and between the main casting I2 and the end frame member I6 are mounted two short channel bars 268 and 262 (Fig. 2) which are attached to the channel bars I8 and 28, respectively. The channel bars 268 and 262 in turn support a channel bar 264 (Fig. 1) and two angle bars 266 and `268. The angle bars 266 and 268 not only serve to stiffen the machine frame but also serve as a means of support for a vertical frame comprising a vertical channel bar 218 and an upwardly and forwardly inclined channel bar 212 (Fig. 2). The upper ends of the latter two bars are joined by an angle bar 214 to which is pivoted by means of an eye bolt and nut arrangement 216 the upper end of a fluid pressure motor 218. The fluid pressure motor is of conventional design, and a pistonrod 288 thereof is pivotally connected by means of a yoke 282 to a crank arm 284 rigidly mounted on a rocker shaft 288 to which is attached a gear segment 286. The shaft 288 in turn is journaled in pillow blocks or bearing blocks 298 (Fig. '1) and 292 (Fig. 2) supported on the machine frame. The teeth of the gear segment 286 (Fig. 7) are in mesh with the teeth of a second gear segment 296 which in turn is aixed to the crank shaft |48. The gear segment 286 bears a crank arm 384 to which is pivoted a curved element or gooseneck 386 (Fig. 7) the end of which is pinned at 388 to the connecting rod |58. At the pivot between the arm |384 and the member 386 is mounted a pin 3|8 upon which a roller 3 l2 may rotate. The length of the pin 3 I 8 is mounted in radial relation with respect to the shaft |48 and gear segment 296.

Transverse to the back of the channel bar 264 (Fig. '1) are mounted two angle bars 3I3 and 3|4 the vertical flanges of which are spaced to form a guideway for the end of a swinging lever 3|6. The latter is pivoted on a bolt 3 8 extending from a bracket 338 mounted on the channel bar 24. The lever 3|6 is made up of two metal strips joined for the major portions of their lengths but separated to receive the shipper or shifter 324 between them and in pivoted relation thereto. The shipper 324 is slidable on the shaft 62 and is part of a clutch-brake unit 326 having a brake portion 326B (Fig. 1) and a clutch portion 326C. The clutch-brake unit 326 does not form a part of the present invention and is therefore not specifically described but an equivalent unit is described in the United States Letters Patent No. 2,271,656, granted in the name of George E. McLaughlin. Another unit which could be used is manufactured by The Carlyle Johnson Machine Co., Manchester, Connecticut, and is called a Maxitorq double type clutch. Another is a unit sold by the Magnetic Mfg. Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The arrangement in the present instance is such that the brake portion 326B comes into action and is effective on the shaft 62 and the pulleys 66 when the lever l3|6 and the shifter 324, with the bolt 3|8 as a pivot, are shifted toward the main casting I 2. If the lever is shifted toward the end frame I6 then the clutch unit 326C is eiective to cause the pulleys 68 to rotate the pulleys 66 through the shaft 62. A spring 338 is Connected to the frame casting I2 and to the lever 3|6 to urge the lever toward braking position. Attached to the lower end of the lever 3|6 is an angle bar 332 to one flange of which is affixed by bolts 333 and 334 an arcuate cam plate 336. The plate 336 forms an arc to conform with the arcuate travel of the roller 3I2 but its upper end is bent toward the frame member I6.

Pivoted at 388 to the hub of the crank arm 284 is a link 342 the upper end of which is pivoted at 344 to a plunger 386 of an exhaust valve 338. The casing 358 of the valve 368 is cylindrical and is supported from the angle bar 212 (Fig. 2) by means of a plate 352. Spaced inlet ports 354 and 356 (Fig. 8) as well as corresponding spaced outlet ports 358 and 368 are provided in the valve casing or cylinder 358. The plunger 346 is a farmacos 'sliding Int :within the icylinder 1350 :and is gmade with two annularfand "relatively #wide 'exhaust fto iform `:a direct passage between fth'ezaports f 35'4 'and 2850 when fthe Yplunger 'i346 l'islin a lowered p'ositionand las shown fin iFig. E 8. 'Iihe .groove lforms la direct-passage lbetween Athe `ports i856 tion -as in Fig.'7. Intermediate the two ,annular grooves i362 and 1364 `on ithe plunger 846 vare `two having eightgroovesia'nd the setiii-havingitwo fgrooves in the particular embodiment illustrated.

Aclosure cap 370 is presseddownfon'the Itopi'of the casing 350.

The portsf' 54 and l 356 are connected lby -means 'of pipe lines 5312 and 3F35 to fthe -1ex`haust '-ports "386 and 388 respectively V(Fig. I9) fof a `control valve i380 mounted on the angle bar 'i2-10. The

valve13'80'isconventionaliand'has end caps 382 -and 384 including the exhaust ports 86 andl-338 ytobear against the end of a valve-spindle 394'hav- 1 ing 'two valve lands 308 andi398.

-Pivoted `by means 'of a pin 00 -to'f'the -valve spindle 394 -is 'afdepending 1rod1l021the lower end 'of which iss-wivelly attached Vat 404 (Fig. 1i) to Ione lend of 'a treadle 5406. 'The treadle is fpivoted on aibolt'OB amxed -to the =ohannel bar itil.

'The port-3l6 v"ofthe'control `-valve 380 is con- `necte'd to 'thecylinder top vof fthe 'motor `278 by means of a hose M0 and the port3ll8 `is con- 'necte'd -to the motorcylinder :bottom by a hose '4I2.

--An air lter Vor iluid purifier 4M iis mounted above 'the control valve -380 through which air -is -led'from a uid pressure supply source. 'Figz clearly shows Aa pipe-f4 |56 vfor=air-enteringtheipuri- `fier and a 1pipe line '4 i 8 `for #conducting-air ifrom vthe purier 4into the port i380 (Fig. i9) -of'fthe 'control valve 380.

The main 'castings' yl0 'and Ai2 are formed `with appropriate openings30 ('Fig. 3) and '4-32 (Fig. 2) respectively, permittingthe insertion, removal or 'operative swingingrnotions lof lthe swinging varms 7S and 'B0 and their associated parts. The 'bearing blocks T80 'and 118:2 for the bladed roll TB are also located in -rthese `openings 4it-80 and `'r32.

The feed roll 2&4 is of specialconstruction *in vthat parallel grooves H34 v(Fig. 1K1) are-employed longitudinally of 'the roll `in combination with helical grooves '436. Each longitudinal tooth 'or ridge between adjacent'grooves 434 is similardn cross section'to ythat of Ianinvolute gear tooth,

`and the `helical l.grooves v11325 Vare defnedlby right 'angled shoulders directed toward the Ycenter of `the machine as depicted by the 'dot-and-das'h lines A shown in Fig. Y12. A suitable 'diametral pitch or pitch'number `(number of teeth :per inch of diameter of pitch circle) for the longitudinal lteeth Yis sixteen.

roll 90,. the shaft 88 thereof is extended beyondfw" dheiarm'llfand is-providediwth afpairfo'f-sprock- 'ets 60idrivenby apair'lof short chainsfdz ,tlig. IZ), a longer :chain '466, vrone intermediate large sprocket 468 and a set of two 'smaller .sprockets F470. The .longerchain -465 yis .adapted Yto be driven 'fby the Isproclret 1224 and rdrives the asprdcketsf and'tlfwhich are rotated asa-unit on'thespin B3. .'Ilh'e .pin `8'3 protrudes from .the =arm F80 Sand lis of -a length Sto fprovide adequate :bearing area for the sprockets llheqarrows-shown in ."Fig. .6 illustrate the di- .rection'sfof Arotation 'of the lworkitreating roll and feed f-of a vwort:'piecevWS being 'fed .between the rubber covered bed :roll y@|06 fand the -feed roll 204 (to the right as viewed inlthat figure). It jwill'he moted -f-thai'fthe ibladed `rollv |16 operates counterto the ldirection Aof :work .feed :and that theifeed=rol12204operates in Etheldirecti'onfof the lyvorkfeed. 2In- 1this Lconnection, land :asshown in TFigf-I-,the h'elical'spiralbladesof the-roll H6 are 'divergent -and to =the right .and Aleft fhands such 4that 'the tendency 'of that roll is lto :spread the lworkson the be'd rll 06. lAt thesame time it Lwill benotcdlth'at the helic'al grooves E36 =of1the two Shalves ofthe ffeed iroll 2011 are also to Ithe iopposite v2hand ibut the direction -of rotation of 'thatfroll issuchfthat the ltendency y of the sharp or-fright langled shoulders (effective on the work lin the dire'ctionsfofflines AlinlFig. 12) is to counlteract Aany off-balance spreading 4eilect lof lthe bladed roll-1116. This matter will be furtherexfplained `'in the *following -description of the ym9,-- V`chine operation.

',In treatinga workpiece MFLo'f'flarge area such 'as afside, Yand assuming fthe motor 128 l'is -driving the bladed roll 5|-T6 lconstantly,the piece is Ideposited-and-'draped by an operatoroverlthe pinch roll 550 when `vthe imachin'e rolls are `in open -positions and the main-operative=parts are 4in the "positionsshown-in\Fig.-i4. lAt'this time the lever 41252 is for has been iplaced in'a vertical position 1(asinfFigs. 11,53 and l'4) and thefchainfl |-B is -in effective thereby vpermitting lthe'pinch roll "90 to A'beloweredbyfthe foree'o'fgravityand ultimately guided Iby ithe `inclined shoulders ontheends 1250 Jand l'2'90 of the larm-s iIBIS-and "188, respectively. order to tripfthema'chine and-closethe rolls "into `the -position-s shown in Fig. 3, -the 'operator `de1: 1'esses`the treadle-U6'With the -result thatthe valve spindle Z89'4 '-(Fig. I9) 4rises and air under pressure Iis fperm'itteiit'o `-iiow from the filter `unit 4M throughthe control Ivalve "-380 lby way of the ports '390 and AT3176. 'This -cau-ses the -motor 2478 to Acome into Aoperation and fthe "piston vrod 280 is pushed downwardly by theair pressure into 'the `position shown in"'Fi g."-2. l'Simultaneous `with the introduction Iof l-air-to "the `motor cylinder through -the'hose 41m-air is exhausted from the :motorfcylindewthrough the 'hose'f4il'2f'and ports j'.''i''and S88-df the valveGBUand-thepipe-315 and -ports35 6 and T360 (Fig.-8l) directly tothe atmos- 'phere This'vaction-'cf the motor-'218 causes the swinging arms 18 'and'f' -to rotate rearwardly -on the fmachine andcloseithe rolls thereby conning the Work piece WL between'the lbedroll vHi8 and lthe 'b'la'ded rll H76. Th'eend roller `252 -and-ithecorresponding roller (at the other "end of thepinch 'ro11f8`0) -arelcaused to 'rollupon l'the inolinedfsurfacesfof th'earms -986 and 188 and tfthe g-roovedfeed roll v2011 inserts 4itself tbetween rolls close, the plungers 96 and 91 become effective to cause the pinch roll 90 to hold the work with sufficient firmness. Simultaneous with the roll closure, shipper 324 is shifted toward the right end of the machine by action of the roller 3l2 on the cam plate 336. The brake unit 326B is thereby released and the clutch unit 326C operates to drive the three rolls |06, 204 and 90. The trailing half of the work piece WL is thereby treated by the bladed roll |16 and the operator, upon completion of treatment of that portion, opens the rolls of the machine. The opening of the rolls is smoothly accomplished merely by releasing the treadle 466 at which time the operation of the motor 218 is reversed because of the action of the spring 392 in the control valve 380. The spring 392 pushes the Valve spindle 394 downwardly and the treadle 405 upwardly. The operator then may reinsert the work piece WL, after reversing it end for end, for treatment of the other half thereof by again closing the rolls.

The action of the plunger 346 of the exhaust valve 348 is such as to provide a shock absorbing effect in so far as action of the motor 218 is concerned and during either openingI or closing of the rolls. The annular grooves or channels 366 and 368, by their number and size, regulate the amount of air which may be exhausted around the plunger 346 and the desired smoothness, ra-

pidity of action and cushioning effects may easily be secured by appropriately varying the nature and location of the channels to suit particular requirements. The arms 18 and 80 tend to open the rolls part way (roughtly one-third of the swing) by the action of gravity alone due to the i manner of their mounting and so little or no power is required at the corresponding end of the motor stroke in opening the rolls. In closing the rolls, however, considerable power is needed in securing adequate pressure upon the leather and the exhaust to port 358 should be fully open as in Fig. 8. It will be noted, however, that ports 358 and 360 may be easily throttled to avoid shocks at either end of the motor stroke by appropriately modifying the spacing, number or sizes of the annular channels in the plunger 346.

In order to treat a small piece of work WS the long g-rip effect of the pinch roll 90 is not required and in order to eliminate it the operator merely pulls down on the lever |22 and the consequent through dead-center action of the linkages on the chains E I6 and |20 lifts and holds the pinch roll 9i] against the action of the spring pressed plungers 66 and 9i. The pinch roll, in such a case, is therefore of non effect in so far as the operation of the machine is concerned. The small work piece WS is placed in position on the soft rubber bed roll |06, as shown in Fig. 5, with the rolls open. Upon treadling the machine the motor 218 causes the rolls to close and be placed in the positions shown in Fig. 6. The work is rmly grasped between the bed roll |06 and the feed roll 206 and the work roll |16 treats the trailing half of the work. Release of the treadle 406 then causes the rolls to open and the operator reverses the work piece end for end and reinserts the untreated portion of the work piece and closes the rolls by again treadling the machine.

During the treatment of the small piece of work WS, and .particularly if such work piece is not accurately placed in the central zone of the path of feed (which path is broad optionally to accommodate either large or small pieces), the piece may be thrown to one side by off-balance action of the helical blades and damaged. The

sharp shoulders formed on the feed roll 204 because of the grooves 436, constitute barbs for holdingthe work properly in the path of feed. The barbs serve to direct or retain the work along a path of feed normal to the axes of the rollsi. e., they serve to resist any tendency of the work bodily to slip or move sideways or laterally towards either end of the feed roll.

The stationary mounted work treating roll |16 is connected to the motor 20 in such a way that it is constantly rotated in the direction shown by the arrows in the drawings, that is, counter to the direction of feed. In regard to the pinch roll, feed roll, and bed roll, however, they are rotated (in the directions shown by the arrows in Fig. 6) only when the machine rolls are in closed or operative positions and their rotation at that time is brought about by the action of the clutch portion 326C of the clutch brake unit 326. When the treadle 406 is released, the rolls open and the shipper 324 is shifted by the spring 330 and the brake portion 326B comes into operation to stop the rolls 90, 204 and |6 for the convenient and immediate insertion of the work by the operator. The throw of the lever 3|6 to induce driving action is prompted by action of the roller 3|2 on the cam plate 336 and as a consequence there is essentially no neutral position for the clutch brake unit 326, i. e., the rolls 90, 204 and |06 are either being rotatively driven or are restrained by the brake.

It will be appreciated that if a high quality of work is to be maintained together with smoothness in machine operation the axes of the tieshaft 1|, the feed roll 436, and the bed roll |06 should all lie in the same plane while the rolls are in closed or working positions. This plane is represented by the dot-and-dash line AB of Fig. 3. The eccentric mounting of the curved arms |86 and |88 at |90 and |92 respectively is a feature of great advantage in that wear of both the blades on the roll |16 and the rubber on the bed roll |06 may be compensated for. The eccentric mounting permits adjustment to place the axes referred to in the same plane regardless of wear and feed roll spring pressure is thereby not permitted to influence the pressure of the bed roll against the bladed cylinder.

From this construction it will be seen that all operative parts are easily accessible and that the combination of the novel feed roll 204 and the quick-change feature or dead-center mechanism pertaining to the pinch roll 90 facilitate the treatment of either large or small skins in one machine. The novel feed roll 204 with its helical grooves 436 has an added advantage in that wear on the soft rubber surface of the bed roll l06 is evenly distributed. The fluid control system may be made as smoothly operative and as prompt in action as desired because of the easily changed or modified construction of the valve plunger 346.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for treating hides and skins comprising a frame, a rotatably bladed work treating roll mounted in fixed bearings on said frame, a feed roll resiliently mounted in spaced and parallel relation to said treating roll, a shaft mounted in the frame above and parallel to said treating roll, two swingable arms depending from said shaft, a bed roll and a pinch roll mounted on the said two arms to swing therewith as a unit toward and from said Work treating roll, said feed roll being arranged to coact with and be insertedibetweenthe` pinch rolland thefbed roll.

when thersaidunitis swung into closed position resulting. in a long grip, on a workpiece'v draped over` the pinch roll.

2. A-machine for treating hides and skins comprisingv aframe, a stationary work treating roll rotatably'mounted onsaid frame,a feed roll resiliently mounted in spaced and parallel relation to saidftreating rolltwo. curved armsfdepending from theupper. part of said; frame and. pivoted thereon, a bed. roll4 anda pinch roll mounted onI the said two arms. for movement.r therewith. to-

ward andfaway from said work treatingroll. andA feed roll,v saidpinchiroll beinggresiliently mounted on said two arms and saidx feed roll being arrangedV directly tovcoactwith both the bed roll.

andthe pinch roll Whenthevtwo armsare-swung` toward the work. treatingrroll.

3. A= machine for treating hides and skins comprising a frame, a wor-le treating: roll journaled on saidframe; a feedroll-journaled in arms piv.- oted on said frame, saidv armsl having-lingers eX.-

tending away from said work treating roll,.two.

on said'frame, a; bed roll, feed. roll andpinch roll mounted; in. cooperative-relation. with said work treating roll,y meansifor. yieldingly urging the said pinch. roll towardsaid. feedl roll, a-dead-center. mechanismfor moving. and holdingthe. saidv pinch roll away from its operative position .relative to the other rolls, andA means for moving, the said bed.- roll andi pinch roll' as a:unit.in.a. direction: normalto the axis ofthesaid worktreatingroll.

5; Amachinefor treatinghides-andskins comprising. aframe, a` Workv treating rolly journaled on. said frame, a softv rubber-covered bed roll mounted in cooperative relationwith. said Work treating roll, a grooved. feedrollmounted in cooperative relation withv the saidbedA roll, a pinch roll yieldinglyy mounted. with` respect to said frame and: arrangedtov-cooperate with the said feed roll, and: af lever operated dead-center mechanism for liftingy and-holding: thesaid pinch roll awa-y from the said.feed.roll.

6. A machine for treatinghides and skins comprising a frame,. a helical bladed work treating roll journaledonsaid frame,- afeedA roll resiliently mounted in spaced.A and parallel relation. tosaid. treating roll, two depending arms pivoted. tov an upper portion of saidframe, a .bedroll mounted on the said two arms to swing therewith as a unit into cooperative relation. with the work treating roll and the feed roll, thehelical blades of said work treating. rollbeingsuch as to spread a given work piece on said bedlroll; said 4bed roll having a resilient' surface material such as soft rubber, said feed rollv having longitudinally uniformly spaced grooves and also helical' grooves to the opposite hand; and said. helical grooves being formed with sharp shoulders. in the feed roll directed away froml the endsthereof for counteracting any undue effect of the helical blades of the workA treating roll' bodily to move the work laterally;

7.. A machinefortreating hides and skinscomprising a. frame; a. work` treating. roll, having.

helical blades journaledonsaid'frame,l abedlroll mountedl in..- cooperative relation.. with. said. Work,

treating roll-.andhaving ayieldingsurface mate,-

rial; for supporting awork piece thereon, a feedv ro1l. mounted incooperative .relationwithsaidbed rollrandsaid feed rollhaving longitudinalgrooves and also helical grooves, and means for driving,

the; work treating roll andthe feed.ro1lf insuch directionsthat the helicalblades tend to spread. the work. andthe. feed roll tends to hold. the Work.

along. av pathv normalv to. the axes,of}the,ro1ls.

8J A.. machine,` for treating hides and'. skins. in.-

cluding a.-work. treating roll, a bed-rollcooperat.-

ngfwith saidwork treating roll and'havnga soft.

covering.: material. thereon, and. a feed roll arranged. incooperativerelation with said bed.roll,.

mechanism to lift andhold thesaid pinch, roll against said springmeans and away fromcooperativev relation with the 'other rolls.

10. A machine for treating hides. and skins comprising aframe, a work treating roll. journaled in a. fixed. pcsitionon said. frame, a feed roll resiliently mountedv on. said frame 'in parallel and. spaced relation. to said` treating ro1l,. a bed roll and a pinch. roll mountedin pivotal relationY to said framefto move into.. and away from cooperative relationv Withsaid Worktreating rollI and. said.y feedrolhal fluid pressure motor. for moving thef'bed. roll. and` pinch roll into and' away from said. relation, a valve for controlling. the ow. of. iiuidto said fluid. pressuremotor, and an exhaust valve for controlling the. exhaust of fluid fromV said motor, saidexhaust valve comprisinga cylinder mounted on-said frame with. aplunger, there in; said plunger being linked with the bed. and pinch rolls simultaneously tomovetherewith andhaving annular grooves to regulatethe passage of exhaust iiuid'- between the plunger and the interior. wall.V of the. said cylinder.

l1. A machine for treating. hides and skins comprising.: a frame.r a work. treating bladedroll.

journaled: on saidframe; a bedroll bodily vmovable on said frame into andv away from operating relation. with respect to said bladed roll, a fluid pressure systemfor controlling the bodily motion of. said bed roll,.an exhaust valve for the pressure fluid. of said systemcomprising acylinder and a plunger in said cylinder, and. said plunger being linked-tosaidbed roll for a corresponding motion and having annular grooves for regulating the exhaust. of the fluidv between the Walls. of the cylinder and the plunger.

12. A machinefor treatingl hides and skins.

mounted onthe-said twoarms to swing therewithl as a unit between open and closed positions for the bladed and bed rolls, said feed roll being arranged to separate the pinch roll from the bed roll when the rolls are in the closed positions, a dead-center mechanism for raising or lowering the said pinch roll away from or into cooperative relation with the other rolls, and a fluid pressure operated system for opening or closing the rolls including an exhaust valve having a cylinder and a plunger therein, the said plunger being connected for movement with said two arms and having annular grooves for regulating the passage of fluid between the walls of the cylinder and the plunger.

13. A machine for treating hides and skins comprising -a frame. a Ibladed work treating roll journaled in xed bearings on said frame, a feed roll journaled in curved arms having pivot connections to said frame, two arms depending from and pivoted upon an axis at the upper portion of said frame and carrying a bed roll in parallel relation with said bladed roll, and the said feed roll pivot connections being adjustable to bring the center line of the feed roll into the same 14 plane as that of the said axis and the center line of the bed roll.

14. A machine for treating hides and skins comprising a frame, a stationary work treating roll rotatably mounted on said frame, a feed roll pivotally mounted by eccentric adjustment means in spaced and parallel relation to said treating roll, two arms depending from and pivoted upon the upper part of said frame, a bed roll J'ournaled on said two arms and in parallel reiation to said treating roll, said two arms being swingable to bring the bed roll and treating roll into cooperative relation, and the center line of the feed roll being between the center line of the bed roll and the axis of rotation of the curved arms and in the same plane as that of said center line and axis during said cooperative relation.

ROBERT F'. WHITNEY.

Name Date ODonnell May 13, 1919 Number 

